Guthrie votes to delay EPA rules

Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02) on Thursday, March 3 voted for H.R. 4557, the Blocking Regulatory Interference from Closing Kilns (BRICK) Act of 2016, to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from enforcing new Clean Air Act regulations on manufacturers of brick and structural clay products and clay ceramics until the courts complete their constitutional review of the EPA’s rules.

“Last summer, the Supreme Court ruled that the EPA should have considered compliance costs when writing the mercury and air toxics standards (MATS), and just last month the Supreme Court halted enforcement of the EPA’s power plant regulations until all appeals are decided,” said Guthrie. “Despite these setbacks, the Administration continues to heap regulations onto industries without serious consideration of costs and benefits. Congress must step in to delay the EPA’s brick regulations, as well, until the courts have a chance to determine the legality of these rules. Having worked in manufacturing myself, I understand the impact the industry has on consumers, jobs, and the economy. We need to ensure that unelected federal bureaucrats do not impose excessive regulations at the expense of hardworking Americans and a critical industry.”

Guthrie also voted for bipartisan bills this week to modernize existing energy laws including H.R. 4238, a bill to amend energy-related statutes to modernize terms relating to minorities and remove racially insensitive terms; H.R. 4444, the EPS Improvement Act, to exempt certain lighting and ceiling fan technology from onerous new regulations; and H.R. 4583, a bill to promote a Twenty-First Century energy and manufacturing workforce by directing more funding toward programs that include women and minorities, groups that have been historically underrepresented in the energy sector.

“As a global leader in energy production and manufacturing, it is important that the U.S. continues to strengthen our energy laws where necessary to reflect our commitment to a Twenty-First Century workforce,” said Guthrie.